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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Empty vessels make the most noise.

Italian translation: molto fumo poco arrosto

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Empty vessels make the most noise.
Italian translation:molto fumo poco arrosto
Entered by: Pnina

16:36 Apr 4, 2005
English to Italian translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: Empty vessels make the most noise.
We have this old saying: Empty vessels make the most noise. It describes ignorant and empty-headed persons who talk a lot about the little that they know, boast about minor accomplishments, and praise themselves for being smart.

Gentilissimi traduttori,
Sto scrivendo una lettera alla mia cara amica Francesca. Vorrei scriverle il mio suddetto commento. Conoscete un detto o proverbio italiano che esprima qualcosa di simile?

Grazie in anticipo.
Pnina
Israel
Local time: 18:48
molto fumo poco arrosto
Explanation:
penso possa essere un valido equivalente
Selected response from:

Gilda Manara
Italy
Local time: 17:48
Grading comment
La ringrazio per il Suo suggerimento. Questo detto mi è piaciuto di più e ho scoperto in un sito italiano che parla delle persone che sono veloci a parlare e lenti nel fare. Grazie anche a tutti coloro che sono intervenuti, in particolare a Giovanna.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4molto fumo poco arrosto
Gilda Manara
3 +2tutte chiacchiere ( e niente sostanza)
Antonella Amato
4il riso abbonda nella bocca degli sciocchi
Alice Bellia
4v.s.
giogi
4molte chiacchiere, poca sostanza
Science451
4la gente "solo chiacchiere e distintivo"
AdamiAkaPataflo
4le teste di legno fan sempre del chiasso
Raffaella Cornacchini
2v.s.
Marco Borrelli


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
empty vessels make the most noise.
molto fumo poco arrosto


Explanation:
penso possa essere un valido equivalente

Gilda Manara
Italy
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
La ringrazio per il Suo suggerimento. Questo detto mi è piaciuto di più e ho scoperto in un sito italiano che parla delle persone che sono veloci a parlare e lenti nel fare. Grazie anche a tutti coloro che sono intervenuti, in particolare a Giovanna.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francesca Santoni: BlackMamba
15 mins
agree  Valeria Francesconi
19 mins
agree  giogi: forse sì...ma non sono convintissima!
21 mins
agree  Leonarda Coviello: Io lo conosco come "tutto fumo e niente arrosto"
2 hrs
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
empty vessels make the most noise.
il riso abbonda nella bocca degli sciocchi


Explanation:
A me piace molto tradurla così, ma non so se ti può andar bene.

Alice Bellia
Italy
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  giogi: non so se il significato corrisponda...mah!
16 mins
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
empty vessels make the most noise.
tutte chiacchiere ( e niente sostanza)


Explanation:
I can't think of anything better right now

Antonella Amato
Italy
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Leonarda Coviello: Oppure "solo parole e niente fatti"
2 hrs
agree  Nicoletta Zaccaria Folin
14 hrs
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
empty vessels make the most noise.
v.s.


Explanation:
Non so se esista un proverbio che traduca proprio la stessa sfumatura di significato. Queste persone si dicono in Italiano "PALLONI GONFIATI"

giogi
Local time: 16:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 14
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
molte chiacchiere, poca sostanza


Explanation:
HTH


    Reference: http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&q=%22molte+chiacchiere%2C+...
Science451
Italy
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
empty vessels make the most noise.
v.s.


Explanation:
c'è un proverbio adatto .. parla di animali e rumore ma non riesco a ricordarlo. Non è "can che abbaia non morde", che forse potrebbe pure andare. Se mi viene in mente te lo faccio sapere.

Marco Borrelli
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
empty vessels make the most noise.
la gente "solo chiacchiere e distintivo"


Explanation:
from a line in the the movie "The Untouchables" - in Italian this is a relatively common way (in my circle of friends, at least) for describing people who think they know better.

AdamiAkaPataflo
Germany
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 98
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
le teste di legno fan sempre del chiasso


Explanation:
it's a line from a XIX-century poem, but it has now become a proverb.
Literally it means
it's the wooden heads that make noise.

raffa1

Raffaella Cornacchini
Local time: 17:48
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
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